On July 27, 2005, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) executed Ra'ed Nawi Khalil Al Moghrabi, aged 32, in Gaza Central Prison.
Al Moghrabi had been found guilty of murdering 35-year-old Khalil Zomlot, from Jabalia Refugee Camp, in 1998.
The High Criminal Court handed down the death sentence in 2001.
On June 12, 2005 the PNA also executed four other Palestinians, found guilty of kidnapping, murder and rape, in Gaza Central Prison.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas issued a decision on June 22, 2005, stating that all prisoners given the death penalty by State Security Courts must be retried before the Palestinian Civil Courts.
The decision came in light of the acknowledged failure of the State Security Courts to provide fair trials, the right to which is guaranteed by international law.
The selection criteria for the execution of Palestinians have not been made public.
Without public scrutiny, there is a risk that arbitrary decisions will be made.
This is a problem that affects the approximately 70 other Palestinians that have received death sentences since the establishment of the PNA.
While Al Mezan generally supports the upholding of judicial decisions and the rule of law, the Center believes that the Palestinian courts’ continued use of the death penalty is flawed.
Al Mezan considers the death penalty to be an ineffective and immoral punishment.
The Center calls upon Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas to use his constitutional powers to refuse to approve death penalty sentences.
The Center urges him to support the conversion of death sentences into appropriate prison sentences.
End